Been out of town? Here’s what’s been happening while you were gone.
By Mary Alys Cherry
After many months of work, Webster has a new fire station, located on Highway 3 next to City Hall. During the opening ceremonies the Webster Fire Department maintained a fire tradition by “wetting down” two of the fire trucks and pushing them into the new station. The tradition stems for the days when fire wagons were pulled by horses, when fire fighters returned to the station they would cool down the horses and manually push the wagon into the station.
Seabrook city manager quits
Seabrook City Manager Kelly Templin has resigned, effective Dec. 1, to become city manager for College Station. Deputy City Manager Gayle Cook will serve as interim city manager until a city manager is named.
“Kelly is leaving great stability in our city government,” Mayor Glenn Royal said, adding, “and what excites me is that this will continue with the appointment … of Gayle Cook. As deputy city manager, she has been the right hand of Kelly and former City Manager Chuck Pinto. Both council and staff have great respect for her and her many talents.”
Jim Yarbrough to vie for mayor
Former Galveston County Judge James D. Yarbrough has announced that he is running for mayor of the island city in the March municipal elections.
The Galveston native and University of Texas graduate served as county judge from 1995 to 2010, when he lost the post to Judge Mark Henry.
Two astronauts’ deaths reported
Two well known former astronauts died in recent days – one who was an original Mercury astronaut and the other a high-flying research and test pilot.
Scott Carpenter, who was the second American to orbit the earth, died Oct. 10 in Denver, Colo., at the age of 88, leaving former Sen. John Glenn as the last surviving Mercury astronaut.
C. Gordon Fullerton, who flew on two early shuttle missions and many research missions out of NASA Dryden after retiring from the astronaut corps, died Aug. 21 at the age of 76.
Webster official given pay raise
Webster City Manager Wayne Sabo has been given a five percent merit pay increase after a 4-3 City Council vote with Mayor Floyd Myers, and Councilwomen Diana Newland and Alexandria Dietrich opposed.
The raise came after Sabo’s annual evaluation during Council’s executive session.
League City gets new judge
Attorney Kathleen McCumber has been appointed presiding municipal court judge by the League City Council after serving as the city’s associate judge for the past 10 months.
An attorney with the Cagle and McCumber law firm, she also serves as Precinct 8, Seat 1 justice of the peace.
She replaces Judge Kerri Foley, who has been appointed judge for Galveston County Court at Law 3 after serving in the League City post for the past 10 years.
Friendswood attorney Richard Cope was named associate judge.
Judge Dupuy resigns post
Galveston County Family Law Court Judge Christopher Dupuy has resigned after pleading guilty to misdemeanor perjury and abuse of office charges.
Dupuy was indicted in May on eight counts of retaliating against his ex-wife’s attorney in a divorce case.
He was sentenced to 10 days of time served for perjury and 20 days of time served on the abuse count and serve two years of probation, after which the convictions will be erased from his record if he satisfies the probation terms.
C.L. Chamber holds food drive
The Clear Lake Area Chamber Young Professionals are holding a food drive benefitting the Galveston County Food Bank.
Cans of meat, beans and fruit, peanut butter, kid friendly foods such as jello, goldfish, pasta and fruit snacks, and personal hygiene items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap and cotton swabs are being collected, along with household cleaners such as dish soap, detergent, bleach and air freshners.
Donors may drop off items at the chamber on NASA Parkway until the drive ends Nov. 21.
